A 19-year-old school teacher in Kwali, Abuja, has been sentenced to life imprisonment without the option of a fine after being convicted of raping a nine-year-old pupil. The landmark judgment, handed down by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, marks a significant breakthrough for the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in its determined fight against sexual violence.
According to National Press Officer, NAPTIP. Vincent Adekoye, Honourable Justice M. Osho-Adebiyi delivered the verdict on October 29, 2025, convicting Abdullahi Abbass, who taught at a prominent school in the Kwali area, on two-count charges bothering on rape and sexual abuse. The offense is punishable under Section 2 of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, 2015.
The court heard that the incident occurred on March 19, 2025. Abbass, who was the victim’s class teacher, sent another pupil to call the boy from his home after school hours. He then took the male victim down the street where he lived and sexually assaulted him. Despite threats from the convict, the victim reported the abuse to his mother, leading to the teacher’s immediate arrest by the Police and the subsequent referral of the case to NAPTIP.
The Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, OON, hailed the judgment, stating it provides a “moral boost” to state and non-state actors implementing the VAPP Act. She stressed that the ruling underscores the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to protecting children from sexual abuse.
Bello noted that the swift investigation and arraignment were a direct result of the agency’s renewed determination to tackle domestic violence and sexual abuse. This effort included recent capacity building for operatives of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Department.
“This is a landmark judgment that carries the commensurable punishment for the offender,” Bello said in a statement following the conviction. “This will serve as a deterrent, and his name shall feature prominently in our Sex Offenders Register.”
The Director General thanked the Judiciary for the judgment and the Nigeria Police for their successful inter-agency collaboration on the case.
